April 30, 2026
By Shereen Karim
GILGIT
As the June 7 general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan draw closer, political activity across the region is reaching a fever pitch. This time, however, a particularly notable and encouraging development has emerged as women have stepped into the electoral arena in significant numbers. A total of 19 women candidates have filed their nomination papers for 24 general seats — a marked and considerable increase compared to previous elections.
Among these candidates are representatives from various political parties as well as independents. They share a common conviction that their presence in the assembly is indispensable for effectively addressing women’s issues and enacting meaningful legislation.
Women’s participation in politics a positive development
Candidate Zubaida Zinat welcomed the development, saying, “The large number of women participating in politics this time around is a positive development, especially in a society where politics has long been considered a men’s domain.”
Independent candidate from Ghizer Constituency 2, Gulshad Bibi, stated her position more bluntly.
“Women must enter power politics. Half the population consists of women, yet to this day no adequate legislation has been enacted to address their problems.”
On the party ticket front as well, women have submitted applications to various political parties and have expressed hope that they will be given representation on merit. “Women should be given the opportunity on general seats this time too, so that they can serve as direct public representatives and play their role in the assembly,” said Habiba Sharafat, Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party Gilgit-Baltistan.
Election Commission to provide all possible facilities to women
The Election Commission has also welcomed the growing participation of women. Chief Election Commissioner of Gilgit-Baltistan Raja Shahbaz Khan said: “The Election Commission will provide women with every possible facility and full opportunity, because this is their constitutional right.”
It is worth noting that of the GB Assembly’s total 33 seats, 24 are general seats, while 6 are reserved for women and 3 for technocrats.
Political observers say that the growing role of women this time signals an important and far-reaching shift in the region’s politics. The women candidates are determined to participate fully in the electoral process shoulder to shoulder with men, and to ensure their meaningful representation.
Elections after five years
The last GB Assembly elections were held on November 15, 2020, across 24 constituencies, in which Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf won and Khalid Khurshid was elected Chief Minister. However, in July 2023, the GB Chief Court disqualified Khurshid, after which a coalition government was formed by PTI’s dissident group, the PPP, and the PML-N, and Haji Gulbar Khan was elected as the new Chief Minister.
The assembly completed its five-year tenure on November 24, 2025. On the same day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his capacity as GB Council Chairman, appointed retired Justice Yar Muhammad as caretaker Chief Minister under Article 48-A(2) of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018. Under that same order, elections must be held within 60 days of the completion of the assembly’s tenure.
On December 12, President Asif Ali Zardari had announced January 24 as polling day, and Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan had issued the election schedule for both the GB Assembly elections and the long-delayed local government polls. However, on December 18, following multi-party consultations and taking into account the majority opinion of party leaders, the CEC postponed the elections due to severe weather conditions. He subsequently announced that the schedule for both elections would be issued for the last week of May or early June, once the weather had normalised — and the June 7 date is now the direct result of that decision.